Reports: Rafah Brigade Commander Eliminated in Gaza Strip

Palestinian reports: Samir Abu Younes, the Rafah Brigade commander in the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades, was eliminated in a drone strike in the al-Mawasi humanitarian area in Khan Younis. The IDF and Shin Bet confirmed that they targeted a senior Hamas operative.

Palestinian reports last night (Saturday to Sunday) stated that Samir Abu Younes, the Rafah Brigade commander in the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades, the military wing of Hamas, was eliminated in an Israeli strike in the al-Mawasi humanitarian area in Khan Younis. Abu Younes was killed in a drone strike while in a vehicle, and another person was reportedly with him. According to the reports, Abu Younes, known as "Abu Mahmoud," replaced the previous brigade commander Nael Abu Ubeid, who was eliminated last September. Shortly after the reports were published, the IDF and Shin Bet announced that they had targeted a "senior operative" in the military wing of Hamas, stating that further details about the strike would follow. In September, the IDF and Shin Bet eliminated Abu Ubeid, the previous Rafah Brigade commander, in a drone strike. Abu Ubeid had replaced his predecessor Muhammad Shabana in May 2025, who was eliminated in Khan Younis alongside the then-head of Hamas's military wing, Muhammad Sinwar.